Cost-effective and expertasbestos solutions

Homes built or renovated before 1990 probably contain asbestos somewhere within their structure. A licensed inspection, which includes taking samples and having them analysed in an off-site, approved laboratory, will confirm exactly where it exists and whether it requires immediate removal or can be managed safely.

If asbestos is contained within materials such as plasterboard, roofing tiles or other building products, the asbestos fibres are effectively prevented from doing harm. Once the microscopic fibres become airborne, they are potentially dangerous to human health. This means that the removal of the asbestos materials can happen gradually as long as the asbestos materials remain in good condition.

Remember:

• Asbestos is most dangerous when it becomes “friable” or flaky and powdery in the air. It can be safe for many years if it is bound in solid materials such as concrete or plaster and as long as it remains undisturbed.


• Asbestos remains New Zealand’s biggest cause of workplace fatalities. It’s important to remember that asbestos-caused cancer – mesothelioma- can take decades to take hold, appearing long after fibres are inhaled.


• Common sense is your best ally.


• Licensed removal and disposal services can provide quotes and even long-term plans for removal that will suit your budgetary constraints.


• Every time a removal service is hired, an additional cost for an independent assessor will be required to inspect and sign off the work as conducted according to regulations. This sustains the value of your property.


• This toxic mineral is a slow assailant and killer. More than 170 fatalities are still being recorded in our country each year due to asbestos exposure. Every week, a health professional gives the tragic news to one or more New Zealanders that asbestos is the reason for their symptoms of illness and that they must prepare for a shortened life.


• Not only must we embark on a national effort to remove asbestos from human environments, but we also need to find ways of eliminating it forever. It is a resilient and dangerous natural element.